The Federal Government has launched the North-East phase of its National Community Food Bank Programme, targeting vulnerable populations as part of a broader effort to tackle child malnutrition and food insecurity across Nigeria.
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The programme was officially flagged off in Maiduguri by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who described child malnutrition as a persistent national challenge requiring urgent, coordinated action. She noted that millions of Nigerian children still lack access to adequate nutrition, stressing that the expansion of the initiative is designed to address this gap at scale.
“I have the honour to commission the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East to the glory of God,” she said during the launch.
Mrs Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Government, state governors, private sector stakeholders and development partners, stating that their collective support reflects a shared commitment to addressing malnutrition. According to her, sustained collaboration will be critical to ensuring the long-term success of the programme.
“Their generosity affirms that we are indeed our brothers’ keepers and gives confidence that this programme will endure and thrive for many years beyond this administration,” she said.
She added that community food banks have proven globally to be effective mechanisms for delivering nutritious food to underserved populations, particularly when supported by strong partnerships across the agricultural value chain.
“By building strong partnerships among farmers, food producers, corporate organisations and communities, food banks bridge the gap between abundance and need,” she noted, emphasising the importance of transparency, accountability and structure in implementation.
The initiative is being executed in collaboration with key government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), alongside the Office of the First Lady. It aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Tinubu, particularly in advancing food security, healthcare access and inclusive national development.
Mrs Tinubu said the programme would be extended to other geopolitical zones, with a call for increased stakeholder engagement as zonal rollouts commence nationwide. She explained that Borno State was selected strategically for the North-East launch due to its history of security challenges, which have significantly contributed to food insecurity and malnutrition in the region.
“This programme will complement ongoing efforts by state governments to improve access to nutritious food, especially for women and children,” she said.
She also commended Babagana Zulum for recent initiatives supporting women’s empowerment, noting that many of the beneficiaries fall within the target group for the food bank programme.
The North-East is among the major beneficiaries of the initiative, which aims to support approximately 500,000 households nationwide. Target beneficiaries include pregnant women, children under six, orphans, and other vulnerable groups facing nutritional and economic risks.
Initially launched in Abuja with over N66 billion in pledges, the programme is structured to establish community-based food banks in every local government area. It will operate through partnerships with primary healthcare centres and utilise a voucher-based distribution system to provide nutritious, locally sourced food to those in need.
